Shubman Gill of India plays a shotduring game five of the T20 International series between Australia and India at The Gabba on November 08, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia

India have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa at home.

 

The biggest takeaway from the squad announcement is the absence of captain Shubman Gill, who has been ruled out of the ODI series as well, having already missed the ongoing second Test against South Africa due to a neck injury. Gill succeeded Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain during the Australia series, which India lost 1-2.

In Gill’s absence, KL Rahul will lead the side as stand-in skipper. Rahul has previously captained India in 12 ODIs, winning eight of them, with his most recent outing as captain coming against South Africa in Paarl in December 2023.

India have recalled Ruturaj Gaikwad, who last played for the national side in a T20I against Zimbabwe in July last year. Also returning is Ravindra Jadeja, whose last ODI was India’s Champions Trophy final win against New Zealand in March. Axar Patel, India’s preferred limited-overs spin-bowling all-rounder in recent years, is not in the squad. With no official reason given for his omission, he might have been rested.

Rishabh Pant, having returned from a foot injury, may play his first ODI since August 2024. Dhruv Jurel is another wicketkeeping option in the squad.

As Hardik Pandya continues to recover from the left quadriceps injury he sustained during the Asia Cup, India have retained Nitish Kumar Reddy as their pace-bowling all-round alternative. With Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah rested, India’s pace attack comprises Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.

Also read: 3,600 km round-trip for two overs: Did anyone benefit from India releasing and recalling Nitish Kumar Reddy?

The first ODI will be played in Ranchi on November 30, followed by the second in Raipur on December 3 and the third in Visakhapatnam on December 6.

India squad for ODI series against South Africa

KL Rahul (c & wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh

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